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| Key gene work scoops Nobel Prize | Key gene work scoops Nobel Prize |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two US scientists and their UK collaborator have been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine for their groundbreaking work in gene technology. | Two US scientists and their UK collaborator have been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine for their groundbreaking work in gene technology. |
| Mario Capecchi, Oliver Smithies and Briton Martin Evans developed a technique known as gene targeting. | Mario Capecchi, Oliver Smithies and Briton Martin Evans developed a technique known as gene targeting. |
| It enabled them to replicate human diseases in mice by introducing genetic changes into the animal's stem cells. | It enabled them to replicate human diseases in mice by introducing genetic changes into the animal's stem cells. |
| The Nobel Committee said this had led to many new insights into conditions such as cancer and heart disease. | The Nobel Committee said this had led to many new insights into conditions such as cancer and heart disease. |
| For instance, science has gained a greater understanding of how disease can strike otherwise healthy people. | For instance, science has gained a greater understanding of how disease can strike otherwise healthy people. |
| The technique has also helped to shed new light on the ageing process, and on how the embryo develops in the womb. | The technique has also helped to shed new light on the ageing process, and on how the embryo develops in the womb. |
| In its citation, the Nobel Committee praised the technique as "an immensely powerful technology" which was now being used in virtually all areas of biomedical research. | In its citation, the Nobel Committee praised the technique as "an immensely powerful technology" which was now being used in virtually all areas of biomedical research. |
| "Gene targeting in mice has pervaded all fields of biomedicine," it said. | "Gene targeting in mice has pervaded all fields of biomedicine," it said. |
| "Its impact on the understanding of gene function and its benefits to mankind will continue to increase over many years to come." | "Its impact on the understanding of gene function and its benefits to mankind will continue to increase over many years to come." |
| Gene knockout | Gene knockout |
| The technique is commonly described as gene "knockout". | The technique is commonly described as gene "knockout". |
| It enables scientists to silence specific genes, and monitor the effect, so that gene-by-gene they are able to build a picture of the development of disease. | It enables scientists to silence specific genes, and monitor the effect, so that gene-by-gene they are able to build a picture of the development of disease. |
| To date more than 10,000 mice genes - around half of the total - have been knocked out, with the rest confidently predicted to follow soon. | |
| As a result, more than 500 different mouse models of human disorders have been developed - including cardiovascular and neuro-degenerative diseases, diabetes and cancer. | |
| The three scientists will share the prestigious $1.54million award. | The three scientists will share the prestigious $1.54million award. |